- A chord is simply 3 or more (particular) notes that when played together make a ‘FULL’ sound
- If this full sound is played rhythmically and various chords are used in a certain sequence, a nice background sound can be created for melodies or lyrics (vocals)
- Let’s play a very basic chord – the chord of C
- Use your right hand
- THUMB – MIDDLE FINGER – SMALL FINGER
- This isn’t easy to start with but TRY TRY TRY to use these fingers
- It won’t take long to get used to it
- For all future fingering purposes number your fingers like this
- Remember – play all three notes
- TOGETHER – AT THE SAME TIME
- Play it over and over until your fingers get used to the shape
Piano Chords
1950s Chord Progression
Right hand
- We’re going to play a very familiar chord sequence using 4 simple chords
- (Don’t worry about WHY a chord is the shape it is or why it is a ‘major’ or a ‘minor’ chord – just PLAY!.)
- The 4 chords are C, A minor (written Am), F and G
- Remember – play the three notes of each chord together – at the same time
- Play them over and over in a repeat pattern SLOWLY
- C, Am, F, G, C, Am, F, G, etc . . . (you may recognize the sequence)
- These chords are in what is known as ‘ROOT’ position, with the THUMB on the note that gives the chord its name – the ROOT note.
- Don’t give up if playing these chords hurts your hands. That’s normal for a beginner and won’t last forever.
- And make sure you USE your 1st, 3rd and 5th fingers.
Left and Right hand
- Let’s make it more interesting by adding some notes in the left hand…
- RHYTHM 1 – “Left note / Right chord”
- The left-hand notes are the SAME note as the first note of the ‘matching’ right-hand chord but played an octave LOWER (8 notes to the left)
- Use ANY left-hand finger (for now)
- If you keep repeating this pattern you should recognize the sequence.
- Lots of songs use this exact rhythm and chord sequence – it is actually known as the ‘1950s Chord Progression’
- Play the sequence and see if you can SING-ALONG with the following songs – you may have to change the speed you play for each song
Songs with 1950s Chord Progression
- Always look on the bright side of your life – Eric Idle – Monty Python
- All I have to do is dream – Boudleaux Bryant (covered by Everly Brothers)
- A Teenager in Love – Doc Pomus
- Beyond the Sea – Jack Lawrence / Charles Trenet (cover – Frank Sinatra)
- Blue Moon – Rodgers and Hart
- Earth Angel – Curtis Williams (used in the film Back to the Future)
- Eternal Flame – The bangles (“close your eyes – give me your hand…”)
- Happiness is a warm gun – Beatles (play very slowly)
- Heart and Soul – Hoagy Carmichael & Frank Loesser 1938 (used in the film‘Big’ with Tom Hanks)
- I will always love you – Dolly Parton (covered Whitney Houston)
- Lollipop Lollipop O lolli lollipop – Julius Dixson (covered by Chordettes)
- Lonely This Christmas – Mud (covered by Elvis)
- My Boy Lollipop – Robert Spencer
- Oh Donna – Ritchie Valens
- Red Red Wine – Neil Diamond (the original chord progression is slightly different but the song still fits with C Am F G)
- Take It On The Run – REO Speedwagon (play each chord twice)
- This Boy – Beatles